04/06/2026
😲 Most people think marketing only happens on social media, billboards, TV commercials, or paid ads.
But some of the world's smartest brands play a much longer game.
Recently, Dubai luxury real estate developer "DAMAC" drew attention for its prominent presence in the 2026 action-thriller "Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan: Ghost War." Many viewers even joked that parts of the movie felt like a luxury Dubai advertisement.
Now, whether people loved it or criticized it, one thing happened: They remembered the brand.
This is where an important marketing principle called "priming" comes in.
Priming happens when people are repeatedly exposed to a brand, idea, place, or product in a natural context. Later, when they need a related solution, that brand is more likely to come to mind.
Think about it.
If you consistently see a luxury property brand featured alongside wealth, success, beautiful skylines, and global business environments, your brain begins to associate that brand with those qualities. Over time, familiarity creates trust, and trust influences decisions.
This is why product placement has remained effective for decades, even in the age of TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and AI-generated content. The goal isn't always immediate sales. Sometimes the goal is simply to occupy a small piece of mental real estate in the customer's mind.
For business owners and content creators, the lesson is clear:
Don't limit your marketing to direct selling alone.
Look for opportunities to appear where your audience is already paying attention — podcasts, events, partnerships, documentaries, communities, movies, newsletters, industry reports, and collaborations.
The brands people remember are often the brands they repeatedly encounter in meaningful contexts.
What is one unconventional marketing strategy you've seen a brand use recently that made you remember them?
P.S. If you're looking for digital marketing strategies that actually fit your business or personal brand, send a message to . We'll help you create visibility, trust, and growth that compounds over time.